West Lancashire Charity.

WEST LANCASHIRE CHARITY .

A LARGE and brilliant assembly was witnessed at the . Liverpool Town-hall on Tuesday , nth inst ., on the occasion of the forty-ninth annual ball in aid of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . The ball was this year held under the banner of the Merchants Lodge , No . 241 , the Junior Warden of which , Bro . Richard Brown ,

acted as Honorary Secretary . The chairman , of the Ball Committee was the Mayor of Preston ( Bro . Dr . J . E . Dunn P . P . S . G . W . ) , and the promoters had the additional advantage of the active co-operation of the Lord Mayor of Liverpool and the Mayors of Bootle and Birkenhead , all of

whom are distinguished Craftsmen . The guests , who numbered about 500 , were received on arrival by the Lord Mayor , Bro . John Houlding P . P . S . G . W ., and his daughter Mrs . T . Knowles , together with the Mayor and Mayoress of

Preston . The attendance was an exceptionally large one ; thedancing accommodation of the two handsome and spacious ballrooms being taxed to the utmost , and presenting an exceedingly pleasing and animated aspect , which was greatly enhanced by the picturesque regalia of the Brethren .

The patrons and stewards , who numered 106 and 113 respectively , wore beautiful jewels of office , which were kindly presented by Bro . Dr . Dunn , Mayor of Preston and Chairman of the Committee . The catering was in the

capable hands of Bro . W . J . Holmes , of the Metropole , whose arrangements could not be improved upon . From every point the ball was an unqualified success , and no doubt the proceeds will form a handsome contribution to the funds of a very deserving charity .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

IT is with deep regret we have to announce the death of Brother John Kemp Coleman Past Master Treasurer and one of the Founders of the All Saints Lodge , No . 1716 , which occurred at his residence , 120 High Street , Poplar , E ., on the 7 th inst ., at the age of 57 years . Bro . Coleman was

installed Worshipful Master of the All Saints Lodge on the 3 rd October 1879 , and he was also a P . M . of his Mother Lodge , the Royal Albert , No . 907 , as well as a Member of Emulation Lodge , No . 299 . He was likewise P . Z . and Founder of the All Saints Chapter , and P . Z . of the Royal

Albert Chapter , and a Member of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . He was a splendid worker of the ritual , and was frequently called upon to perform the installation ceremony . For many years he acted as Installing Master in the All Saints Lodge ,

while his zeal for Freemasonry , and his efforts on behalf of Charity and Benevolence , endeared him to all Brethren with whom he was associated . The deceased was a well known Auctioneer and Builder of Poplar , and had served in many public Offices . A large congregation assembled at the Parish

Church , where a service was held on Thursday , prior to the interment at the City of London Cemetery . Amongst those present were Bros . C . J . R . Tijou P . A . G . P ., F . White P . M . P . Z . 007 , Leonard Potts P . M . 1716 , R . Harland

P . M . 1716 , S . Kirk P . M . 1716 , Raymond P . M . 1716 , J . C . Carpenter I . P . M . 1716 , F . Whitlock J . W . 1716 , J . Y . Mosey Sec . 1716 , J . W . Gibbs Z . 1716 , J . Light P . M . 299 , Scott , Borley , Gibbon , Bradshaw , Mundy , G . Anderson 1716 , Bussey , Clarkson , & c .

BRO . Geo . Butterton , of Harlesden , a member of the Elliot Lodge , died on the 31 st ult ., after a short illness , leaving a widow and two children to mourn his loss . The funeral took place on Thursday , 6 th inst ., at Old Willesden Churchyard , ancl was attended by many of his late

colleagues , personal friends , and a few Masonic Brethren . Prior to the interment a full choral Service was held at All Souls Church , where our Brother had been connected with

the choir . The deceased was forty years of age , and had been upwards of twenty years in the service of the Gas Light and Coke Co ., having been for the last fourteen years collector of the Willesden district .

ONE of the four firemen killed by the explosion at the fire in Glasgow , on Friday , 7 th inst ., was a member of the Craft—Bro . James Hastie , of Shettleston St . John Lodge , No . 128 . It is gratifying to know that several of his

Brethren of the Craft attended the funeral . BRO . F . J . Durling , a well-known merchant , died at Port Elizabeth on 12 th December , from inflammation of the lungs . Bro . Durling was Secretary of the Goodwill Lodge , and many Brethren were present at the funeral .

What Masonry Is And Does.

WHAT MASONRY IS AND DOES .

Extract from the Address of Bro . D . N . Nicholson , at the Laying of the Corner Stone of the Masonic Temple at Burlington , Vermont , 20 th October 1897 . I 71 EEEMAS 0 NEY has risen high above all opposition and ' conflicting elements , and I believe wherever men have been

found who were capable of receiving instruction and had a firm belief in one true and ever-living God , the Supreme Architect of the Universe , it has offered its benefits . Other institutions have been assigned for particular nations and have adapted themselves particularly to the conditions in the -world ' s history ,

but this is not the case with Freemasonry , which has suited . itself to all ages and spread among all the civilised nations of the world . It is not sectarian , aud has no distinctions in Faith but between him who believes in God and him who denies His existence . Its doors are closed to the atheist , the slave , and those who are held iu disrepute before the world .

The question naturally arises , Why this universality of Freemasonry ? Wherein lies its vital principle , its expansive energy ? The same question has been asked in relation to other institutions , both human and divine ; in relation to Christianity , in relation to Mahometanism . As to Christianity ; how happened

it that , springing up among a despispd people , and propagated by illiterate disciples , it in a few centuries usurped the temples of time honoured superstitions ? The answer is , Christianity had God for its author , and employed Divine assistance in its propagation . They who will not accept this explanation must admit that the problem remains unsolved .

In making their conclusions they are to take notice , too , that tho gain which comes to a moral or spiritual life is one that involves in it time , and therefore faith . And the fruit of the Divine agency has shown itself gradually . There was but little at first , then there was more . It has increased ever since .

His life was not an influence from without , imposed on the ordinary laws of nature . It was part and parcel of that economy of God which was established as the creation of tbe world , ana taking the natural course of its evolution . His life has been a life of . ages .

In view of this enunciation of facts , I ask you to seehow the same thing is going on in our day in a small way . Christ walked like a shadow in His day , and if you had asked at that time , Where are the secrets of power in the world ? some would have pointed to the Old Temple , and said : " These are the secrets of

the world's power . Others would have said , Have you been in Athens ? Have you seen their temples and statues ? Have you seen the Parthenon ? Have you seen " her art and read her literature ? Have you entered into the depths of the learning of her Plato and Aristotle ? The world ' s history is wrapped up in

Athenian literature ; and if , while he yet spoke , a disdaining Eoman had passed by , and you had followed him and said , Wherefore that smile ? he would have said . " The Jews and the Greeks are filled with superstitions and are blinded as to the true source of the world ' s power . That power is centered in Eome ,

whose greatness is unequaled by that of any other nation on the globe . " And how would Jew , Greek and Eoman join in mirthful derision if you had pointed to that person , the Saviour of the world , and said , In that Man is the secret of the whole world ' s power ! But the Jews , the Greeks , the Eomans , witli their

philosophies , have gone down while this Shadow has risen into greater and greater power , until it tills the world . And therefore the world is grandly constituted to develop manhood in those who know how to use it . But how base and ignoble are they who squander their manhood in this world , who pass through the

most wonderfully organised system of education , namely the natural , civil and social world , aud parcel out their noble nature , as it were , for sale ; who coin conscience , who suppress their spiritual nature , who dignify success in worldly things , who live not for manhood , but for selfishness , for pride , for pitiful pelf .

True men are those who can mingle with men , and are tempted to selfishness , and rise above it ; to pride , and hold it in subjection . We are to be living men among living men , overcoming evil tendencies and temptations It is not . enough that men should have good qualities ; they

must have them in strength . These qualities must have grace ; they must be beauteous as well as pure and strong , and tbey must be put into action ; every single faculty must dress itself in all excellence of which it is susceptible . Love is ooinmanded , but " let love be without dissimulation . " Generosity is inculcated , but it is not enough to be simply generous . " He that giveth ,

let him do it with simplicity , " not pompously , ostentatiously , not boastfully . And so through the whole eatologue of manly qualities , they must have in them strength . This , then , is the ideal of manhood—the develop ment of man ' s whole nature into power and activity ; the training of every part into subordination and harmony , the enriching of every part and of the whole with